The Top Foods To Avoid in a Heat Wave

It's been a stifling summer across most of the country, and it's all one can do to try and stay cool. But according to Food Republic, some foods may only make the problem worse. Check out their list of foods to avoid in hot weather, and weigh in with your own experiences:

1. Spicy foods: Capsaicin (found in spicy foods) consumption is correlated with a short-lived increase in body temperature, so when it's really hot out, every effort should be made to keep that body temp low. They say to ditch the excess hot sauce, in other words. (Although, like we noted earlier this week, a hot drink can actually cool you down.)

2. Diuretic Foods: You want to stay hydrated, so they recommend avoiding foods that flush water out of the body. This includes coffee, tea, soda, and foods like mangoes, fennel, artichokes and asparagus, which have a similar effect on the body.

3. High Protein Foods: The digestion of protein requires your body to do a lot of work, which creates heat in a process known as thermogenesis. Stick to lighter carbohydrates, like fruit, which require less energy and produce a lot less heat by thermogenesis. According to Food Republic, "it can take anywhere from 50 to 100% more energy to break down protein compared to carbohydrates. The moral of the story: Take it easy on the meat."